Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859. Excerpt:... The landscape widens-: scattered here and there Smiles a fair hamlet, while to northward lies A chain of forest hills, some bleak and bare, And some with wooded summit's greet the skies. Here Markfield rears aloft his craggy head; There Bardon shrouds himself in sylvan gloom; There lowlier Cliff and Swithland ling bespread, Invite the bee to taste its purple bloom. From these I torn, and rather wend my way Where stood in olden time a moated hall, Now a mere wreck, abandoned to decay, And the rude spoiler who defaces all. Hail, Bradgatel home of many a legend wild; Of many a strange romance the fitting scene; 3 seek once more thy much-loved haunts, beguiles By lawny upland path or "bower serene. Pleasant thy wooded dells, where song-birds triM Their mellow music all the summer day; Where leaps and laughs untired the jocund rill, like a gay-hearted child with leave to play. I love thee for thy fern-clad breeey heights, Where mild-eyed deer are bounding-fleet and free. And for thy mosey glades and vales bedight, With all sweet-flowers to feast the golden bee. Bat chief I lore thee for a cherished name That like a fadeless garland round thee clings; A precious pearl, a gem of purest flame, Enshrined in English hearts with all bright things. Sweet Lady Jane, 1 image thee a child, In graceful gambol by these pleasant streams; And then, when learning's light had on thee smiled, A high sealed maiden dreaming glorious dreams. Musing o'er Plato, deathless sage of eld, While thy gay kindred phantom pleasures sought; Thus wise old Ascham, wondering, thee beheld. So far above thy years thy lofty thought. I see thee once again a bride adored; Bliss on thy brow, and love-light in thine eye; With untold wealth of sweet affection dowered, While o'er thee shines as yet und...